Where did life likely start? What were the raw materials necessary for it?
What is the currently most accepted 4-step hypothesis for the origin of life? Explain each step. Is there any evidence to support this hypothesis?

- Water

- Methane, Ammonia, Hydrogen sulfide

4-step hypothesis for the origin of life

1. Synthesis of non--living organic molecules

2. Joining of monomers to form polymers

3. Packaging of polymers into protocells

4. Origin of self--replicating molecules

When did earth form?

- Earth formed about 4..6 billion years ago

How do sedimentary strata, index fossils, isotope dating and magnetism of rocks elucidate evolution in the fossil record?

-Sedimentary strata reveal relative age of fossils

- Absolute age of fossil—radiometric dating (isotope)

- Magnetism of rock (reversal of poles)

How is the fossil record an important source of evidence for evolutionary relationships? what are the different types of fossils?

-allows for homologous/analogous/homoplasies relationships to be formed so that a phylogeny can be created.

-different type of follies are found in the different strata

-possibly in the three eons:

1. archaean

2. Protozoic

3.Phanerozoic

What is continental drift and how did it effect evolution of life on earth?

-continental drift is the movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other by appearing to drift across the ocean bed. SUPER continent to individual ones.

-Consequences:

1.continent's climate can change as it moves north or south

2. separation of land masses can lead to allopatric speciation

3. formation of Pangea about 250 mya caused a deepening of the ocean basins, reduction in shallow water habitat and colder and drier climate inland

5. evidence: distribution of fossils and living groups reflect the historic movement of continents/plate tectonics

How did mass extinctions provide opportunities for adaptive radiation? Name 2 major
mass extinctions, including the major organisms that went extinct and the likely cause(s)?

-Mass extinctions provide:

1. fossil record chronicles on many occasions

2. occur during times of rapid and disruptive environmental change

3. provide opportunity for adaptive radiation

-Two major extinctions occurred in the :

1. Permian

a. volcanic eruptions on many occasions

b.~250 mya (took less than 5mya)

c. 96% of all multinuclear species extinct (especially marine animals)

d. 8 of 27 orders extinct

2. Cretaceous

a. impact of a large meteor

b. ~65 mya

c. many marine and terrestrial organism lost (dinosaurs)

What type of organisms dominated the PreCambrian (544-3500 mya)?

-PreCambrian (3500-544 mya)

1. life found in oceans only

2. prokaryotes dominated

3. Photosynthesis evolves

What were the 1st photosynthesizers? How did they alter the atmosphere and open up the possibility for new organisms?

When did organisms move on to land? Which organisms arrived first? What were the
adaptations in plants that allowed them to be successful in the terrestrial environment?
What were the 1st animals to move onto land and what feature did they have that helped
them to do this?